Jammu, May 20: One Labourer was killed and nine others are feared dead after an under-construction tunnel caved in last night on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban district.
Besides recovering the body of one of the ten labourers trapped under the debris , rescuers rescued three labourers in injured condition.
SHO Ramsoo Nahiem Matoo when contacted told GNS that the body of one labourer from West Bengal has been recovered. Matoo and a police team comprising at least 10-11 personnel also had a narrow escape amid shooting stones at the site amid continuous rains leading to the suspension of the operation for the night, officials said.
Earlier Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar and Mukesh Singh (IPS), additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Zone, visited site of incident where a massive rescue operation is going on.
As per the officials, the chances of survival of the other trapped persons remain “slim” as the debris is “all-around”.
“At around 10.15 pm (on May 19), the Ajit tunnel of T3 caved-in, near Khooni Nallah Ramban, trapping more than a dozen labourers of Sarla Company working at the site,” the officials said.
A police officer told GNS that three persons were rescued and were shifted to district hospital Ramban wherefrom one of them— Vishnu Gola (33) Jharkhand has been referred to GMS Jammu for advanced treatment.
“Rescue operation is still going on,” the officer said, adding, “It is likely to take more time as rock breakers are being used to create space for reaching the trapped persons.” Asked about the possibility of the survival of the trapped, the officer said that nothing can be said with surety. “Rescue is on and hopefully we will reach them soon.”
Deputy Commissioner Ramban, alongwith DIG, SSP Ramban and Project Director NHAI and representatives of Construction Company are at the spot, officials said.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban Masrat-ul-Islam told GNS that company officials have informed that ten persons are missing persons.
Asked about the wellbeing of the missing persons, he said that “nothing can be said as of now”.
“The length of the tunnel is around 3 meters only and whether they are inside it or outside the tunnel area is not specifically known also. Debris is all-around. There are chances of suffocation also,” he said, adding, “The rescue operation has been going on since 12 a.m.”
He said it a “delicate operation” as far as vulnerability is concerned. “Shooting stones are continuously happening and even heavy machinery cannot be employed given the fact that shooting stones fall continuously.”
The ten missing persons have been identified as Jadav Roy (23), Gautam Roy(22), Sudhir Roy(31), Dipak Roy (33), Parimal Roy (38), all from West Bengal, Shiva Chowhn (26) from Assam, Nawaraj Chowdhury (26) and Kushi Ram (25), both from Nepal, Muzaffar (38) and Israt (30), both locals. (GNS)
